Our Great Redeemer's Praise ‎#436

436. A Prayer for Knowledge and Vital Piety

1 Come, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
to whom we for our children cry;
the good desired and wanted most
out of Thy richest grace supply;
the sacred discipline be giv'n,
to train and bring them up for heav'n.

2 Answer on them the end of all
our cares, and pains, and studies here;
on them, recovered from their fall,
stamped with the humble character;
Raised by the nurture of the Lord,
to all their paradise restored.

3 Error and ignorance remove,
their blindness both of heart and mind;
give them the wisdom from above,
spotless, and peaceable, and kind;
In knowledge pure their minds renew,
and store with thoughts divinely true.

4 Learning’s redundant part and vain
be all cut off and cast aside;
but let them, Lord, the substance gain,
in ev'ry solid truth abide;
Swiftly acquire, and ne’er forego,
The knowledge fit for them to know.

5 Unite the pair so long disjoined,
knowledge and vital piety;
learning and holiness combined,
and truth and love, let all men see;
In those whom up to Thee we give,
Thine, wholly Thine, to die and live.

6 Father, accept them through Thy Son,
and ever by Thy Spirit guide!
Thy wisdom in their lives be shown,
Thy name confessed and glorified;
Thy pow'r and love diffused abroad,
till all the earth is filled with God.

Text Information

• First Line: Come, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
• Title: A Prayer for Knowledge and Vital Piety
• Author: Charles Wesley (1763)
• Meter: 88.88.88
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2022
• Scripture:
  Matthew 28:16-20
  ;
  Colossians 1:9-14
  ;
  Titus 2:11-15
  ;
  James 3:13-18
• Topic: The Church, The Saints: The Word of God

Tune Information

• Name: ST. CATHERINE
• Composer: Henri F. Hemy (1864)
• Adapter: James G. Walton (1874)
• Meter: 88.88.88
• Key: A♭ Major